A Tale of Two Quarters

A Tale of Two Quarters

My sweetie and I were out walking the dog a few days ago. As we were crossing the street I spied a quarter lying in the roadway. Some people may have ignored such a paltry sum, but not me. Oh no!

This was found money! My luck usually tends toward finding pennies (which I immediately put in my shoe), and the occasional dime, but this was a quarter! As I bent to pick it up, two thoughts immediately flashed through my brain. The first was “be sure to wash your hands when you get home” the second was “look around to be sure there isn’t more”. Sure enough, there was another quarter lying a short distance away. Mindful of an oncoming car, I swiftly scooped up the two quarters and raced across the road. Oh lucky day! Not only was I fifty cents richer, but I managed to avoid being struck by a car in the process. I happily deposited the quarters in my change jar, adding it to the mix of loonies, toonies, dimes, nickels and quarters my sweetie and I have been accumulating for some special goal not yet defined.

Now, fifty cents is not much in the grand scheme of things. Some people may not have even bothered picking it up.

What would you do if you found a sum of money? Would your answer depend on the amount you found? Would you behave differently if you found twenty dollars instead of fifty cents? Let’s set the ethical debate aside for the moment and assume that you end up keeping the money. What would you do with it?

Believe it or not, your behaviour says a lot about how you are motivated by money. According to Syble Solomon, creator of Money Habitudes™ having certain habits and attitudes may affect your behaviours and decisions related to money. Solomon categorizes six types.

If you ignore the money completely, and walk right on by, you could be the “free spirited” type, where money is not a priority in your lifestyle.

Or, you could also be the “status type”, where it would be beneath you to stoop over to pick up money, what would people think? Or if the sum of money were enough to make you ditch your dignity and dive for it, you would spend the money on some latest gadget or clothing to impress your friends. For the “status” type, money is used to create a positive image.

If you put the money in your wallet to boost your weekly allowance and immediately spend it, you could be the “spontaneous” type. You live in the moment, and money helps you do that. You are a “Life is short, eat dessert first” kind of person.

If you immediately drop the change into a street person’s jar, or buy a gift for someone using the money, you may be the “selfless” type. You spend money on others to help you feel good about yourself.

If you tuck the money away in savings account or jar you could be the “security” type, where having a sum of money available to you at all times makes you feel safe and secure.

If you add the money to a fund you have set up for a special occasion you could be the “targeted goals” type. For those folks, money is a tool to help you achieve your goals.

As for me, I know I am the targeted goals type, as is my sweetie. And sure enough, those habits and attitudes were reflected in what I did with my money.

If you want to learn more about your Money Habitudes, please join us for one of our Money Habitudes™ nights. People LOVE this seminar. Call or email for more details.